Thanks for sharing your experiences. I purchased the same microscope in November 2022 (manufactured May 2022) and found that the issue appears to have been fully resolved. My microscope boom arm doesn’t suffer from any of these problems. Hope this helps someone else out there 😉

Thank you for posting this video! I just purchased one of these scopes (direct from AmScope) on Thanksgiving day. After watching your video I immediately ordered a length of hardened linear shafting just in case. I can tell you that as of now (December 2017) these scopes still come supplied with the same soft steel, chrome flashed shafts. After a dozen back and forth movements of the boom right out of the box the shafts were already breaking down the chrome flashing and started fretting/galling. And that was WITHOUT the weight of the focus rack or microscope installed! I machined the new shafts right away and replaced them. Other items of note: My scope came equipped with a different trinocular tube from the one shown on AmScopes web site. I got the tube with the slotted opening in the side that allows dust/dirt to get INSIDE the microscope head. I contacted AmScope to ask if they would exchange the tube for the solid one (no slot) that is pictured with the scope. THEY REFUSED to do so, and wanted me to return the entire scope. I was informed I would have to pay an undisclosed amount to exchange the scopes. More problems: The holes that hold the guide screws for the tapered cotters (sleeves) that lock the focus rack to the boom shaft were drilled and tapped off-center from the bore that holds the cotters. This caused the cotters to be rotated at an angle due to the guide slots going over the screws in the bottom of the locking sleeves. So only one tiny edge of the tapers contacted the boom shaft. The focus rack could NOT be locked down when tightened and just swung freely no matter what. I had to drill and tap new holes for the guide screws that were in the CENTER of the bore where they are supposed be! Also - the retaining screw hole that keeps the focus rack from sliding off of the boom shaft was drilled and tapped at an angle. The threads in the hole were oversize and the screw wobbled around and hung at a 10 degree downward angle. I had to re-drill a larger hole (STRAIGHT this time) and install a helicoil insert to straighten out the screw position. PLUS: The screw in cap at the bottom of the focus rack post also has loose sloppy fitting threads. If the focus rack was to drop too quickly and hit the end cap, I sure it would rip what little thread contact there is completely out and knock the cap off - letting the scope head fall off and hit the floor. Extremely shoddy workmanship over all for a $1000 + investment in a microscope. Buyer beware.

Thank you for this video and the article you wrote. Very helpful! I made this mod for my Amscope (Fyscope): the original upper shaft was horribly grooved and the horizontal movements were rough, to say at least . I had to leave the original bottom shaft because the 20mm tempered one was too thick and the fit with the plastic bearing led to excessive friction. No worries! As you said, the bottom shaft is just a guide for stability and It will never be subject to heavy wear. Very pleased with the final result. For those who were asking...the upper shaft is long approximately 16" (410 mm) and the bottom one 13" (330 mm). You can just cut the tempered rods without making the slots but be careful because if the retaining screws come loose the head will just come right off. Cheers

Mine arrived yesterday and works great. It is a SM-4TZZ-144S-3M.

December 4th 2018 double arm boomstand shipped with 20 mm rods chrome plated (or stainless) but not hardened steel core. Ive got a thick groove developing on the top and bottom of the upper rod. 1st day.

Mine, purchased from Amazon October 2016, has the linear bearing scoring due to soft steel rod and no pre-load on bearings.

I contacted them about this issue today (August 2017). They said they had no tickets regarding this issue in their system (even after linking to this video) and I'm pretty sure they deleted an amazon listing with a review that mentioned it. I used to wonder why they had so many listings. Now I think I know :/

Just ordered mine last week and it seems I believe this is still an issue with the soft steel. It's more difficult to tell though, and less blatant even after several cycles. However, I do believe it's not as good as proper hardened steel.

I just purchased this scope and await it's arrival. I hope you'll see this question. What about the groove cut into the shaft end at the scope head end.? The one that the cam nuts fit to. Yours is missing this groove in the video? Is this groove needed, and if so how is it made?

Have you thought about selling the upgrade for those of us that don't have the needed equipment?

Do you have to length of the 20mm shafts (upper and lower)? My scope was purchased in 2013 and I'm sure will need the mod, I never used the boom in this way but swing it side to side and plain to change my work area around. I'm not near my home now and can order the replacement from "irvineman" as he's still selling on eBay. Thanks for the video and mod instructions.

@arekx

2 жыл бұрын

AFAIK originals are 420mm and 330mm but I used 800mm and 900mm ones just to get bigger arm reach area (note - base needs to be clamped to the desk in such case). Without any grooves (these are not needed for it to work).

If I paid you would you make the two rods for me? Please advise. Thanks

So you just replaced the shaft, nothing else to get that smoother sliding effect? Any chance I can get the description/part# of that shaft? I might have to do this myself. I just ordered the SM-4TPZ. Thanks for this info.

@pitts8rh

7 жыл бұрын

Simply replacing the shaft makes all the difference, assuming the microscopes are still being manufactured the same way with linear ball bearings. When you get your scope confirm your shaft sizes and go to eBay and look up "20mm Hardened Steel Shaft" from seller "irvineman" or go to vxb.com (I believe that this is the same seller). You will need to use carbide lathe bits or an abrasive wheel with some water cooling to cut the shafting.

@maccullete6491

7 жыл бұрын

Thanks for this prompt reply. I just emailed Amscope and asked them about the shaft and if they have made any improvement to it. I can share with you here their reply if you're interested. I might have to beg the seller of that shaft if he can cut it for me if I give him the measurements since I live up in the boonies, God's country, you know? :) lol and all that lathe thingy, not sure if we have that here.

@supersoniccomputers7799

6 жыл бұрын

Hello, I too just purchased this microscope and it's not here yet but I wish to order the upgraded rail.. Any way you could hook me up with the lengths of the two rails, or just how much longer the long one is? I appreciate any direction you can give me on this. Thanks! Sam

Do you know if actual shipping product is still that bad or did they correct based on your findings?

@pitts8rh

7 жыл бұрын

Someone (apparently a customer) contacted me within the last year and indicated that they had not corrected the problem.

@fou_barre

7 жыл бұрын

Too bad. Will not by from them or at least not that sliding boom model. Will see if they made poor engineering on other arms too. Thank you.

@highpwr

6 жыл бұрын

December 2017 and YES - they are STILL that bad, if not worse! I just bought one... :-(

What is the length of the the two rods? I'm about to buy a SM-4T with the boom stand. If I need to, I will replace them.

@pitts8rh

7 жыл бұрын

I can't give the exact lengths without disassembling the boom, but in my case a 3' length of stock was long enough for both with about 3" to 4" left over.

@househug

7 жыл бұрын

Thanks!

@supersoniccomputers7799

6 жыл бұрын

Did you ever determine the lengths of the rails? Thanks

hello my friend, how take out the linear bearings, i can see a little hole but dont know what to do? thank you for your videos

@pitts8rh

4 жыл бұрын

I think a 1.5mm Allen wrench will work.

@hectorayala8626

4 жыл бұрын

@@pitts8rh thank you very much working allen 1.5

This is still the case

Harden to what Hrc?

@pitts8rh

5 жыл бұрын

Using more words in a question is always helpful, but I'll take a guess at what you're thinking: 1) You can't harden the shafts that come with the microscope - they are under-diameter, plated, and who knows what they're made of 2) If you buy linear bearing shafting as shown here it will have more than adequate hardness for this application 3) If you intend to harden steel to a specific Rockwell hardness and then grind it to diameter yourself, then you already know more about this than I do.

Thanks for the heads up. Another $50 and 30 minutes of work, just isn't that big of a deal for a high quality scope at a bargain price. I find it hard to believe the some people would be so myopic and obtuse, that they would opt to pay twice as much for another scope of equal quality rather than putting in a little more money and some elbow grease.

Informative, best lower or loose the music.

@pitts8rh

5 жыл бұрын

I think you mean "lose"... BTW, what music?

They wanna save money with that shaft. Its very strange because a hardened regular shaft is not so expensive at all. You can get one for $10. Their shaft is at least $5. So they save $5. Hmmmm. I don't understand.

@telelaci2

6 жыл бұрын

I forgot to mention that your review at technitoys.com/review-amscope-trinocular-boom-stereo-microscope/ is excellent, very informative with problems and solutions, thank you very much.

It's amazing that people buy the cheapest Chinese knockoff and then expect the best materials and workmanship. Clearly, the hardened rods would increase the price. You get what you pay for.